Dependency Law Finder

Florida's dependency statutes, court rules and DCF operating procedures, with the appellate opinions that apply them

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§ 39.820 Former number


Each citation is matched to today's text through the statutes the opinion applied (1997 on), so renumbered subsections land in the right place; those show "Cited as".

§ 39.820 isn't in the 2026 Florida Statutes. No current section names it as a former number; many pre-1998 numbers were delinquency provisions, which moved to Chapter 985 in 1997. The opinions below cite it by this number.

4 opinions cite § 39.820

  1. D.H. v. Adept Community Services, Inc. 271 So. 3d 870 · SC17-829 · Florida Supreme Court 2018

    This opinion cites § 39.820 2 times, the section generally

    · cited by 28 in all courts

    …Fla. Stat. (2006). Guardians ad litem are “appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child in a proceeding as provided for by law.” § 39.820(1), Fla. Stat. (2006). “The guardian ad litem serves as the child’s representative in court to represent the child’s best interest.” C.M. v. Dep’t of …

  2. D.H. ex rel. R.H. v. Adept Community Services, Inc. 217 So. 3d 1072 · 2DCASE2D15-304 · 2nd DCA 2017

    This opinion cites § 39.820 2 times, the section generally

    · cited by 3 in all courts

    …best interests of the twins in the dependency case. The guardian ad litem did not have plenary powers over the twins for any other matter. Cf. § 39.820(1), Fla. Stat. (2006) (providing for the guardian ad litem to be appointed to represent the best interests of the child in that proceeding). To hold that the…

  3. Guardian ad Litem Program v. T.M. 2D22-2501 · 2nd DCA 2022

    Reversed & remanded This opinion cites § 39.820 1 time, the section generally

    Supplemental adjudication reversed because the trial court wrongly refused to consider on the merits the guardian ad litem's rule 8.270 challenge to a birth-certificate parent's status.

    …the biological father may have. In dependency proceedings, the GALP does not advocate on its own behalf but for the best interests of the child. See §§ 39.820(1); 39.8296(1). The child had no say as to when the motion was filed, and "[t]he courts are charged with the duty of ensuring that the …

  4. In re Guardianship of J.D.S. 864 So. 2d 534 · 5D03-1921 · 5th DCA 2004

    This opinion cites § 39.820 1 time, the section generally

    · cited by 4 in all courts

    …744.331. A guardian appointed for a minor, whether of the person or property, has the authority of a plenary guardian. On the other hand, under section 39.820, a guardian ad litem is a person appointed to represent an incompetent party in civil litigation. A guardian ad litem has none of the powers of a plenary…

1 admin code rule cite § 39.820

DCF's rules in Chapter 65C, Florida Administrative Code, that cite it or name it as the law they implement.

  1. Rule 65C-35.001 Definitions. (14)cites (1)

3 CFOPs cite § 39.820

How DCF carries it out. A page opens in the CFOP reader with the citation highlighted.

  1. CFOP 60-8, ch. 1 Employee Personnel Records p. 5
  2. CFOP 60-52 Employees Volunteering to Serve as Guardian Ad Litem p. 1 (1)
  3. CFOP 170-18 Services for Children with MH and Any Co-Occurring SA or DD Treatment Needs p. 32 (1)